Sushil Kumar, Vijender to get land for setting up academy in Haryana

Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Wednesday announced that it will allot five acres of land to Olympic medal-winning wrestler Sushil Kumar to set up a wrestling academy and three acres to boxer Vijender Singh for a boxing school in Haryana.

The proposal was approved by the Haryana Cabinet on Wednesday. Sushil Kumar Foundation will be allotted the land at the Motilal Nehru School of Sports in Rai near Sonipat, a state government spokesman said.

Haryana had earlier proposed to give Kumar eight acres. But he said five acres would be sufficient for his academy. Kumar won a silver medal in wrestling at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The rate of lease would be Rs 35,000 per acre per year and the period of lease would be 33 years in the first instance. Also, 50 percent seats would be reserved for youths with Haryana domicile for admission to the wrestling academy.

The Cabinet also decided to allot three acres of land on lease to boxer Vijender Singh at the same school for setting up a boxing academy. Vijender won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.